Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Drinking Water: More Information
Associated Press Research Yields More Information About PPCPs in Drinking Water
The presence of PPCPs (Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products) in water supplies have been studied by US governmental agencies and also by the World Health Organization, but a considerable amount of research has been conducted as well by the Associated Press. The AP did an extensive 5-month research project on PPCPs in 2008.
Here are the ten most common PPCPs in US drinking water, according to the AP. Note that results are in tinier amounts than those possible with most conventional testing. Results are reported in ppt (parts per trillion).
The UL report also went into some detail in its study of possible treatments. It identified the best treatment strategies as
- Activated carbon
- Biologically activated carbon
- Ozone/advanced oxidation processes
- Ultraviolet (UV) treatments
- Nanofiltration
- Reverse osmosis.
Here are more specific observations about treatments for PPCPs:
- Over 90 percent of steroids can be removed from drinking water using activated sludge, activated carbon, biologically activated carbon, ozone/advanced oxidation processes, UV treatments and reverse osmosis.
- Over 90 percent of antibiotics, antidepressants and antimicrobials can be removed using activated carbon, biologically activated carbon, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.
- Over 90 percent of anti-inflammatories can be removed using activated carbon, biologically activated carbon, ozone/ advanced oxidation processes, UV treatments, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.
- Over 90 percent of lipid regulators can be removed using activated carbon, biologically activated carbon, ozone/advanced oxidation processes, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis.
- Under 40 percent of listed PPCPs can be removed through the use of coagulation/flocculation and softening/metal oxides.
The Pure Water Gazette’s observation: Of common point of use treatments available to homeowners, activated carbon and reverse osmosis rank in the 90 percent reduction area in all categories. The obvious conclusion is that a high quality carbon drinking water unit is excellent protection against PPCPs, and a reverse osmosis unit (reverse osmosis units normally contain at least two high quality activated carbon filters in addition to the reverse osmosis element) is even better.
